National HIV Case Reporting

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Abstract
Although it is true that Maryland's surveillance system for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which has been in effect since 1994, is still being refined and improved, we have found that it has allowed us to perform all the public health functions described in the article by Gostin et al. (Oct. 16 issue).1 Maryland's system of HIV surveillance by means of unique identifiers has allowed linkage of HIV case reports to death records, has assisted in investigations of unusual strains of HIV,2 and has been used to inform decisions about allocating funds for service delivery. Our experience suggests that important epidemiologic information can be obtained through a non–name-based surveillance system.